Riser support apparatus

ABSTRACT

A clamp member comprises a jacket, a pair of mounting flanges depending from the jacket and at least one support depending from at least one of the mounting flanges. The clamp member may further include an area bounded by the at least one support.

BACKGROUND

This application discloses claims and embodiments generally related to a riser support.

A riser of cast iron material and a plastic conduit are generally coupled in a commercial construction plan to take advantage of the less expensive plastic conduit material. However, the cast iron iron is much heavier than the plastic conduit to which it may be coupled. As a result, the plastic conduit experiences considerable force and strain imparted by the weight, movement and harmonic vibration(s) of the cast iron riser. Therefore, improvements in the apparatuses or devices that support a riser is desirable.

The art does not appear to disclose the combination of elements and features disclosed herein, including the novel combination of elements and/or materials disclosed hereinafter. As such, an improvement to a riser support apparatus, including those that may be presently available, is desirable and useful.

This application presents claims and embodiments that fulfill a need or needs not yet satisfied by the products and inventions previously or presently available. The applicant is unaware of any product, disclosure or reference that discloses the features of the claims and embodiments disclosed herein, and as more fully described below.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one embodiment of the invention, a clamp comprises a pair of clamp members coupled to secure a riser therebetween, each one of the clamp members comprising a jacket and at least one support depending from the jacket.

In another embodiment of the invention, a clamp comprises a pair of clamp members coupled to secure a riser therebetween, each one of the clamp members comprising a jacket and a pair of mounting flanges depending from the jacket. Each clamp member may further include at least one support depending from at least one of the mounting flanges. Each clamp member may also include an area bounded by the at least one support.

In another embodiment of the invention, a clamp member comprises a jacket, a pair of mounting flanges depending from the jacket and at least one support depending from at least one of the mounting flanges. The clamp member may further include an area bounded by the at least one support.

The “Summary” is provided merely to introduce certain concepts. The “Summary” is not intended to identify any key or essential feature of the claimed subject matter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a riser support apparatus, the apparatus having a pair of clamp members mated or coupled together;

FIG. 2 is a front or rear view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is top view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a side view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 utilized in the coupling of a riser pipe and another pipe, generally depicted as a cast iron riser pipe and a PVC pipe;

FIG. 6 is a front view of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the riser support apparatus, the apparatus having a support enclosing the area defined within the apparatus;

FIG. 8 is a front or rear view of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a side view of FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a top view of FIG. 7; and

FIG. 11 is a front or rear view of the apparatus of FIG. 7 utilized in the coupling of a riser pipe and another pipe.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

As used herein, “riser”, “pipe” and “conduit” are used interchangeably to indicate a metal or plastic tubular structure that carries, transports or provides a route or path for material, including fluid(s) (e.g. liquid and/or air) and/or solid(s), or a combination thereof.

With reference to the figures, an apparatus for supporting a riser is disclosed, the apparatus comprising a first section 10 a and a second section 10 b, wherein the sections 10 a and 10 b are coupled to secure a riser therebetween. Each section 10 a/10 b has a jacket 12 engaging the exterior surface of a riser. Each section 10 a/10 b also includes at least one support 14 disposing the jacket 12 away from a structural surface, such as a floor/ceiling, a wall or other form of partition. The sections 10 a/10 b may include access to an open area 22. The area 22 includes a volume of space to accommodate the coupling of conduit therein. For example, in one embodiment, in construction, a riser (of cast iron material) may be coupled with a conduit (of polyvinyl chloride material) within the area 22 utilizing a coupling (e.g. stainless steel pipe coupling). The disposition of the jacket 12 away from the floor surface via support(s) 14 provides structural support and integrity to the riser that would otherwise be absent, while also providing the area 22 in which coupling of different runs of conduit may be accommodated.

With reference to the figures, specifically FIG. 1 through FIG. 11, one embodiment of the aforementioned apparatus includes a clamp 10 having a pair of clamp members 10 a and 10 b coupled or mated to secure a riser therebetween. Unless otherwise noted, the clamp members 10 a and 10 b are minor images of one another, therefore similar elements and terms are denoted by the same reference characters herein.

In one embodiment, the clamp 10 comprises a pair of clamp members 10 a and 10 b, wherein each one of the members 10 a and/or 10 b comprises a jacket 12 and at least one support 14. The members 10 a/10 b may also include a plurality of mounting flanges 16. Each mounting flange 16 may include one or more apertures 18. The aperture(s) 18 of one member 10 a aligns with the aperture(s) 18 of another member 10 b. The aperture(s) 18 may receive or accommodate a fastener or other device for mating or coupling the members 10 a and 10 b about a riser.

The jacket 12 has an interior surface and an exterior surface. The interior surface has a radius that may be complementary to the exterior surface radius of the riser. In this arrangement, the interior surface of the jacket 12 engages the exterior surface of the riser, utilizing the surface area available to reinforce the riser against excessive movement and reduce or inhibit harmonic vibration generated by the transportation of fluid or solid material through the riser. The interior surface of the jacket 12 may be generally described as semi-annular in form or shape. In one embodiment, the exterior surface of the jacket 12 has a similar radius to the interior surface. In another embodiment, the exterior surface of the jacket 12 may have a different arrangement or configuration, including one of a plurality of polygonal shapes or forms.

The support(s) 14 dispose the jacket 12 away from a structural surface, such as a floor or ceiling, a wall, or a partition. The support(s) 14 disposes the jacket 12 above or externally to the coupling of the conduit. The combination of the jacket 12 and support(s) 14 provides structural support to inbound conduit and inhibits excessive movement and harmonic vibration imparted to the conduit as fluid or solid moves through the conduit.

FIG. 1 through FIG. 6 depicts one embodiment having at least two supports 14 depending from the jacket 12 and/or mounting flange(s) 16 (discussed in greater detail below). As depicted, each support 14 may be downwardly depending. Each support 14 may be substantially equidistant from the jacket 12 to provide balance to the clamp member 10 a or 10 b. Each support 14 may terminate with at least one foot 20 providing further structural support. The underside of the jacket 12 and the interior surfaces of the supports 14, in addition to the structural surface, generally define the outermost surfaces of an area 22 (described in greater detail below).

FIG. 7 through FIG. 11, each member 10 a and 10 b comprises a single support 14 depending from the jacket 12 and/or mounting flange(s) 16. As depicted, each support 14 may be downwardly depending, having a radius similar in sweep to the radius of the jacket 12. In this configuration, the support 14 encloses approximately 180 degrees of the riser and/or other conduit coupled therein. The support 14 may also include a foot 20 circumscribing the lowermost circumference of the support 14, the foot 20 having a sweep similar to the radius of the support 14 of this embodiment.

Each one of the mounting flanges 16 outwardly depends from the jacket 12, with each flange 16 extending laterally in opposing directions from the jacket 12. Each flange 16 includes at least one aperture 18 formed therethrough. The apertures 18 of members 10 a and 10 b are disposed so that the apertures 18 align when the members 10 a and 10 b are mated or coupled. A fastener “F” may be inserted through the apertures 18 of members 10 a and 10 b to mate or couple the members 10 a and 10 b about a riser and securing the riser therebetween. FIG. 7 through FIG. 11 depict mounting flanges 16 having a plurality of apertures 18 formed therethrough to accommodate additional fasteners “F”.

Area 22 accommodates the coupling of a riser and an additional conduit line. As previously described above, the area 22 may be open and readily accessible (e.g. FIG. 1 through FIG. 6), or alternatively, the area 22 may be enclosed by the support 14 yet still accessible via disassembly (e.g. FIG. 7 through FIG. 11). As depicted in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, the cast iron pipe (riser) is inserted through the mated members 10 a and 10 b, and through the semi-annular jackets 12 of each member 10 a/10 b (thereby forming a generally annular jacket). The pipe (riser) projects through the jackets 12 and into the area 22 where it is coupled with the PVC plastic pipe via a pipe coupling mechanism. As depicted in FIG. 11, the cast iron pipe (riser) is inserted through the mated members 10 a and 10 b, the pipe (riser) projecting through and into the area 22 for coupling the cast iron pipe with the PVC pipe. The coupling of the pipes is hidden and enclosed by the support 14.

It is to be understood that the embodiments and claims are not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of the components set forth in the description and illustrated in the drawings. Rather, the description and the drawings provide examples of the embodiments envisioned, but the claims are not limited to the specific embodiments. The embodiments and claims disclosed herein are further capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways, including various combinations and subcombinations that may not have been explicitly disclosed. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purposes of description and should not be regarded as limiting the claims.

Accordingly, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception upon which the application and claims are based may be readily utilized as a basis for the design of other structures, methods, and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the embodiments and claims presented in this application. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions.

Furthermore, the purpose of the foregoing Abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially including the practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent and legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The Abstract is neither intended to define the claims of the application, nor is it intended to be limiting to the scope of the claims in any way. It is intended that the application is defined by the claimed appended hereto. 

1. A clamp comprising a pair of clamp members coupled to secure a riser therebetween, each one of the clamp members comprising: a jacket; at least one support depending from the jacket.
 2. The clamp of claim 1 further comprising a pair of mounting flanges depending from the jacket.
 3. The clamp of claim 2, wherein each one of the mounting flanges comprises at least one aperture formed therethrough, the at least one aperture of a first clamp member aligned with the at least one aperture of a second clamp member.
 4. The clamp of claim 1, wherein the at least one support comprises a wall having a radius.
 5. The clamp of claim 1 further comprising an additional support depending from the jacket.
 6. The clamp of claim 6, wherein the supports are disposed on opposing sides of the jacket.
 7. The clamp of claim 6, wherein the supports dispose the jacket away from a surface.
 8. The clamp of claim 6, wherein each one of the supports comprises a foot at a terminal end thereof.
 9. The clamp of claim 6, wherein the supports and an underside of the jacket define an area.
 10. A clamp comprising a pair of clamp members coupled to secure a riser therebetween, each one of the clamp members comprising: a jacket; a pair of mounting flanges depending from the jacket; at least one support depending from at least one of the mounting flanges; an area bounded by the at least one support.
 11. The clamp of claim 10, wherein each one of the mounting flanges comprises at least one aperture formed therethrough, the at least one aperture of a first clamp member aligned with the at least one aperture of a second clamp member.
 12. The clamp of claim 10, wherein the at least one support comprises a wall having a radius.
 13. The clamp of claim 12 further comprising a foot circumscribing a lower margin of the wall.
 14. The clamp of claim 10 further comprising an additional support depending from the jacket
 15. The clamp of claim 14, wherein the supports are disposed on opposing sides of the jacket.
 16. The clamp of claim 14, wherein the supports dispose the jacket away from a surface.
 17. The clamp of claim 14, wherein each one of the supports comprises a foot at a terminal end thereof.
 18. A clamp member comprising: a jacket; a pair of mounting flanges depending from the jacket; at least one support depending from at least one of the mounting flanges; an area bounded by the at least one support.
 19. The clamp member of claim 18, wherein each one of the mounting flanges comprises at least one aperture formed therethrough, the at least one aperture of a first clamp member aligned with the at least one aperture of a second clamp member.
 20. The clamp member of claim 18, wherein the at least one support comprises a wall having a radius.
 21. The clamp of claim 18 further comprising an additional support depending from the jacket, wherein the supports are disposed on opposing sides of the jacket.
 22. The clamp of claim 21, wherein the supports dispose the jacket away from a surface.
 23. The clamp of claim 21, wherein each one of the supports comprises a foot at a terminal end thereof. 